Top Gear (1977 TV series)/Series 26

Series 26 (1977 format)
Jeremy Clarkson became the show's new lead host.
Episodes	14
Originally aired	19/09/1991 - 19/12/1991
Original network	BBC Two
Resolution	576i
Aspect ratio	4:3 Standard
Preceded by	Series 25 (1991)
Superceded by	Series 27 (1992)

The twenty-sixth series of Top Gear premiered in the United Kingdom on the 19th September, 1991, and concluded on the 19th December, 1991, after a run of 14 episodes. The series' main host was Jeremy Clarkson, and he was accompanied by Chris Goffey, Tony Mason, Quentin Willson and various other hosts as co-presenters. The series was produced at Pebble Mill Studios in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and aired on BBC Two in a 30-minute magazine format.

Highlights from this series include the change in lead hosts from William Woollard to Clarkson, the first change in lead host since Series 6 in 1981, the longest run of Top Gear up to that point, staying on air right through to Christmas, and the increased inclusion of supercars from exotic marques such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Production

With Clarkson now in charge, the programme's tone began to shift from a more serious look into the world of cars as it had been under Woollard, to a more relaxed, entertaining one. Still working as a writer for Performance Car, production for the show overlapped with the production for the magazine's October 1991 issue, resulting in a photoshoot and video shoot at the same time, with the same journalist and cars, for two different brands of automotive journalism media, as part of Clarkson's fastly-growing influence at the time. The programme would also introduce Quentin Willson as the show's debuting new and used car expert, a role which he'd firmly hold for the ensuing decade.

With Woollard's departure and Sue Baker also having stepped down the series prior from her limited role as host for motor shows, Chris Goffey now became Clarkson's main broadcasting partner, even becoming lead host for one episode during which Clarkson was away. Series 26 was also the first series for Janet Trewin, a female host that primarily looked at issues facing woman drivers as well as safety issues within the automotive industry as a whole. And although she wouldn't debut on television until Series 29, this series would also mark the first appearance of Michele Newman for voiceover segments, which Steve Lee likewise helped to provide.

Unlike other Autumn/Winter series of Top Gear, which would usually end somewhere around October - November to allow unbroken coverage of the year's RAC Rally, Series 26 incorporated the rally into its schedule before finishing after the rally had concluded. For one final year, William Woollard resumed his hosting duties for Rally Report, during an event which saw Juha Kankkunen and his Lancia Delta reign supreme, securing his World Championship.

Hosts

• Jeremy Clarkson - main host (12 episodes)
• Chris Goffey - secondary host (6 episodes)
• Quentin Willson - used car expert (6 episodes)
• Tony Mason - motorsports correspondent (6 episodes)

Also featuring

• Tiff Needell - professional driver/tertiary host (4 episodes)
• Janet Trewin - tertiary host (3 episodes)
• Nicky Fox - tertiary host (1 episode)
• William Woollard - guest host (1 episode)

Trivia

• At 14 episodes, this was the longest Top Gear series up to that point.
• It was the first to be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, of a total 37 he'd host as lead presenter, more than any other Top Gear host.
• With Woollard and Baker both having bowed out at the end of Series 25, this series meant Chris Goffey was the last surviving regular host of Top Gear's '80s era, following the earlier retirement of Frank Page in 1988.